Is it rude to invite people in a second round?

Just wanted to get some thoughts on whether this was a good idea, but we have got most of our RSVP’s back and our numbers are slightly lower then expected. As we have to pay for a certain number of guests anyway and there are a few people I missed off the first list, I was wondering is it rude to invite people in a second round using the same invites? The probably is the RSVP date was printed on my original invites – I have quite a few left over. To reprint them would cost quite a few hundered dollars and mean I probably can’t send them out in time? I feel if I use different invites it will make it really obvious that people were a second invite as there was a lot of talk about the first invites (we had a really good deisng).

I don’t think it’s rude. Most people understand that people can’t invite everyone to the wedding. So if they get an invite and they are really there to care about your special day, they won’t care what order they received it. At least that’s the way it should be.

Since you’re asking as an etiquette question, etiquette says it’s rude. While some people may not care, others will. People can understand not being invited to a small, intimate affair, but if it is not so small or inexpensive, it sends the message that your venue and all the extras were worth more to you than the people. You’re supposed to include the people who belong on the list and then set the budget.

IMO you are better off sticking with the list of people you thought most important to you in the first place. Another issue is that it can come across as a gift grab.

I have not been offended yet. However, there is room for some to be hurt. For example, if my closest friend put me on the second round vs. a close colleague putting me on her 2nd, third, or even forth round. As long as I don’t get the impression that I am a space-filler, I will probably be okay (except in close friend scenario).

NowraJanBride: This happened to me as a guest. I found it rude, and particularly offensive as I was sent the original invitation with the old rsvp date crossed out and only a 2 weeks to respond. I declined. If I wasn’t good enough to invite initially, then I’d prefer not to be invited at all. Especially just to bring up your numbers.

NowraJanBride: I think if you’re honest with them, most people aren’t etiquette sticklers and won’t mind if you say “Hey, we could only invite so many people, but we actually have some unexpected openings, we would love it if you could come”. I think contacting them directing is the best way though, don’t use your old invites. I was invited to a wedding with my family last year and FI was not, but two weeks before the bride contacted me saying space was available and to bring FI along. Its honest and, to me, that is respectable.

Most of the time I think people won’t even know that they were second round if you start sending invites soon enough before the RSVP deadline. (Unless everyone on your guest list knows each other). Most of my guests received invites 8 weeks prior to the wedding, some (second tier) received invites 6 weeks prior and a couple people received an invite one month prior. (Perhaps that was pushing it, but with both of those people – casual friends- I followed up in person).

NowraJanBride: I just went through this and could have written this post myself. I had originally invited 132, and only 74 RSVPd yes. We had a minimum to meet to avoid massive room fees.

So, we decide to invite a few other coworkers and parents of close friends that we originally did not have room for. So far, everyone has taken it well and been super thankful and excited they were thought of!

I know with my coworker, I said “So, I know it is kind of last minute, but if you are available on (insert wedding day) I would love for you to come. We originally had some really tight restrictions at our venue and were unable to invite a lot of people, but we were able to work it out with them and have a little bit more room to invite some extra people. I know we have gotten to be great friends over the past few months, so if you can make it, that would be great! If not, I totally understand.”

She was so excited and basically RSVPd yes right there. I told her I could send her an invite so she had one, and she said ok. The end.

Saw this thread on another wedding board site. If you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling, call/email and ask if they received your invite since you didn’t hear from them (knowing full well that you didn’t hear from them because you didn’t send them an invite).

When they say, “no, we never got an invite,” then you say…what?! It must have gotten lost in the mail! I’m going to send you one today. Give them the details over the phone/email and you can get an idea if they can come or not.

I’m sure some people won’t like this. You can’t please everyone, and this seems like the path of least resistance…and the least amount of hurt for those that made the B list (unknowingly).

NowraJanBride: Depending on WHO was inviting us second round– I don’t know that I would attend.

The way I see it- if I was not important enough to make your first cut, why should I bother?

I know some people don’t think it’s rude….but for us- there’s no way we’d show up to a wedding without a gift- whether it’s boxed or monetary….and we’d need to find and pay a babysitter, etc….so while we like celebrating happy events- it’s a little bit of work for us, and it costs us money.

Thanks. This has been really helpful and there are some great suggestions. Certainly everyone I am very close to was include on the first list 🙂 I think if I invite a few extra people whom I am not super close to by either asking them if they got their RSVP or just speaking to them it should be okay if I explain the situation. Some people like to party and come to a wedding! We have that we are happy for people just to come and no gifts necessary on our invites, so I am sure no one will interpert it as a gift grab 🙂 Its still about 2 months till our wedding..

I was really hoping people would respond more quickly to the invite, but most people I had to chase actually or didn’t respond until the last week 🙁

Maybe slightly cultural, but I think most people here are from Amercia where food, drink and service is very cheap. In Australia it about $150 – 300 per person for a wedding.. so I think as most people know this they will understand. Well I am hoping 🙂 And it just seems like such a wast to end up paying more money because we didn’t meet the minimum….

Count me in the “this is rude” camp. I would decline a “the people we really cared about can’t come, won’t you attend as filler so we don’t get penalized for not meeting minimums?” invite immediately on principle.

Then again, I am a firm believer in the “you set your guest list and then you see what hospitality you are able to provide” philosophy of creating a guest list…

PS. The number of people who are just waiting on pins and needles and equate wedding invitations to a Hogwarts acceptance letter is much lower than brides think. Really, people will live if they don’t get invited to your wedding.